Weather causes some travel delays

Wintry weather delayed holiday travelers heading over Washington's mountain passes Saturday, with more inclement weather — and delays — expected today.

The National Weather Service said 4 to 12 inches of snow fell in the mountains of Western Washington on Saturday. All lanes were open at Snoqualmie Pass, but traffic backed up for miles as chains were required for part of the day.

As of early Saturday evening, the Washington State Department of Transportation was advising traction tires for traffic in both directions at Snoqualmie and Stevens passes. Oversize vehicles were prohibited at both passes.

The weather service issued a winter storm watch for today, as another strong frontal system was expected to push through the state.

Heavy snow was predicted for the Olympics this morning and the Cascades this afternoon as the front moves through, with greater accumulations than on Saturday but "a little higher snow level."

But with the worst weather remaining well up in the mountains, the estimated 102,000 air travelers who thronged Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Saturday didn't experience major flight delays — unless they were bound for O'Hare or Newark airports, which had weather issues of their own.

The airport should be a bit less crowded today, Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper said, with 96,000 people expected to pass through the terminals — "about an average summer day for us."